Ignition tube timing arrangement



July 3, 1945. 1 P. L. SPENCER 2,379,462 I 'IGNITION TUBE TIMING ARRANGEMENT Filed July 30, l941 SYNCHRONOUS Mo-r'oR aq) oooonoa m INVEHTOR' PERCY L. SPENCER,

ATTY.

Patented July 3, 1945 Percy L. Spencer, West Newton, Mass, assignor to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Newton,

4 Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application July 30, 194:1, Serial No. 404,647

12 Claims. ('01. 250-457) This invention relates to an arrangement for determiningthe time, duration and sequence of the conduction of one or more electrical space discharg tubes of the type in which conduction occurs upon an igniting impulse being supplied to said tube. The arrangement is particularly adapted for the control of electrostatically ignited tubesin which the igniting element consists of a conductor insulated and separated from a pool type cathode by a thin insulating layer, preferably as described and claimed in my copending application, SerialNo. 303,963, filed November 13, 1939.

An object .of this invention, is to-distribute regularly recurring'igniting impulses to one o'rmore tubes through asynchronously-rotating distributor in a simple reliable 'manner so as to control the time, duration and sequence of conduction of said tube or tubes. I Another object is to cause the igniting impulses to be delivered across a spark gap between a stationary electrode and One or more movable electrodes mounted on said synchronously-rotating distributor. y

.A further object is to provide for flexible and simple adjustment of the timing means.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention will be best understood from' the' followin description of an exemplification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a diagrammatic representation of a tube-igniting system incorporating my invention.

In the arrangement as shown, one or more isnition type tubes l are to be ignited by means of igniting impulses supplied'thereto. The tube l is preierably of the electrostatically ignited type, as des'cribed'and claimed more fully in my copending application, Serial No. 303,963; The tube has a pool type cathode 2, preferably of mercury, an anode3, and an igniter 4. This igniter is the type consisting of a conductor insulated and separated from the pool by an insulating layer there- .on in contact with the surface of the pool. Said anode and cathode are connected in series with a suitable load device the current to which is to be controlled by the tube I. The above series winding l0 energized from the output of the phase-shifting device 8, and jasecondary winding H which is connected to the primary winding 12 of an igniting transformer [3 having a secondary winding l4. The peaking transformer 9 causes a peaked impulse to be generated in the secondary winding I I during each positive and negative half cycle ofv the alternating voltage supplied to said transformer. By adjusting the phase-shifting device 8, the phase relationship of 7 these peakedimpulses to thealternating voltage supplied to the terminals '8 and 1 may be regulated in anyde'sired way. Theign'iting transformer l3 transforms peaked impulses supplied thereto to high voltage impulses of the order of 1000 volts or more which appear across the secondary wind-.

One sid of the secondary winding 14 is connected by means of a'conductor" IE to the cathode 2f'of theftube I. Interposed in the connection from the other side of said secondary winding to circuit is energized from a pair of terminals 8 and l which are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of alternating current.

In order to derive a series of regularly recur- :ring igniting impulses, a phase-shifting device 8, offa'n'y well -known type, is energized from the terminals 6-"! andsupplies a peaking transform- 3 15] Sa Peak ng w rme ha mar the igniter 4 is a distributor Hi. This distributor is preferably in the form of a circular rotatable drum having a series ofiregularly spaced holes I! 35 around the outer circumference thereof. These holes H 'are adapted to receiveand retain detachable pins l 8. The distributor 18 is made of conducting material, and is preferably insulated from the shaft 22 by which 'it' is driven; A brush I9, whichis' connected toon'e side of the secondary "winding l4, engages a bearing surface on the drum [6 so as to establish electrical connection thereto. An electrode 20 is supported in a stationary position opposite the ends'of the pins I8 as they pass by said electrode. The spacing between the 'e1ectrode'20 and the ends of the pins 18 is such that when each pin is substantially opposite the r brush 20, th voltage supplied from the secondary winding I4 is sufficient to break down the gap and cause an igniting impulse to be delivered to the.

igniter 4. Of course'the position of the electrode 20 may be adjusted to control the breakdown voltage between it and the pins l8.

The shaft 22 which carries the distributor I8 is driven""from a suitable synchronous motor 2| which is energized from the alternating voltage appearing across the terminals 61. l I

When his desired to ignite an additional tube la similar to l in predetermined sequence rela- .tionship with respect to said tube I, an additional distributor 16a, being provided with pins l8a, brush l9a, and electrode 20a, may be provided on the same shaft 22 As a matter of fact, any number Of'SllCh distributors and associated'tubes may be provided in this-systemv Of course it; is to motor 21- rotates at 180 R. P. M., by providing,

forty holes I! on the distributor Hi, the above desired relationship is secured. Thus, by selectin the holes I! into which pins l8 are inserted,

voltage impulses are supplied to the igniter 4 only during those half cycles so selected. Inv

absence of a pin 18, the voltage of the secondary winding 14 is insufficient to cause breakdownbetween the distributor l6 and the electrode 20,

The above arrangement affords a convenient and reliable means for also selecting any predetermined sequence of operation of the tube I. example, said tube may be caused to conduct current for a predetermined number of consecutive positive half cycles and be deenergized during another predetermined number of alternating current cycles. By relatingthepins l8a to the pins Hi, the other tube or tubes in the systemmaybe caused to conduct currenteither at the same time as the tube l or in some other predetermined sequence. The phase-thiiting device 8 enables the ignitingimpulse in the selected half cycles to occur at a predetermined phase relationship with respect to thealternating' voltage supplied to the tube l, and thus the tube'l can'be caused to conduct current through any predetermined portion of its normal conducting hali cycle.

It will be seen that the above system is one which is very simple and reliable, and yet accomplishes the various objects for which it is'intended.

Of course it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular details as described above as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad interpretationcommensurate with the scope of the invention within the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical space discharge device of "the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said cathode and anode, an igniting circuit connecting said igniting electrode and said cathode, impulse meansior producing regularly recurring igniting impulses substantiaily in synchronism with said alternating voltage, means independent of said impulse means to distribute said impulses tosaid igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a pair of electrodes forming a normally non-conductive spark gap, means for-impressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodesin series with the igniting electrode-cathode path, and means for causing said spark gap to become conductive under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage.

2. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said cathode and anode, an; igniting circuit connecting said igniting electrode and said cathode, impulse means for producing regularly recurringigniting impulses bearing a predetermined phase relation to said alternating voltage, means independent of said impulse means For to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a pair of electrodes forming a normally non-conductive spark gap, means for impressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodes in series with the igniting electrode-cathode path, and means for causing said spark gap tobecome conductive under the influence. of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternat- L. ting voltage.

3. An elctrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said catahode and anode,

' ducing regularly recurring-igniting impulses substantially in synchronism with said alternating voltage, means independent of said impulse means to distributesaid impulses to said ignitingelectrode onlyduring selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a pair of electrodes forming a normally non-conductive spark-gap, means for impressing said igniting impulsesbetween said pair of electrodes in series with the igniting electrode-cathode path, means for causing said spark gap to become conductive under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said'alternating voltage, and means for-selecting at will'the half cycles during which said igniting electrode is so supplied.

4. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an'anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between saidoathodeand anode, an igniting circuit connecting said igniting electrode and said cathode, impulse means for producing regularly recurring igniting impulsessubstantially in synchronism with saidalternating voltage, and means independent of said impulse means to distribute said impulsesto said igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a distributor, means for driving said distributor in'synchronism with said alternating-voltage, aspark gap electrode spaced from said distributor to normally prevent electrical breakdown of the intervening gap, said distributor being formed to cause breakdown of said gap under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage.

5. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alterhating voltage between said "cathode and anode, anigniting circuit connecting said igniting electrode and said cathode, impulse means for producing regularly recurring igniting impulses substantially in synchronism with'saidalternating voltage, and means independent of said impulse means to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected'half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a distributor, means for driving said distributor in synchronism with said alternating voltage, aspark gap electrode spaced from said distributor to normally prevent electrical breakdownrof the intervening gap, and means mounted on said distributor to pass sufficiently close to said sparkgap. electrode to cause said impulses to break down said'gap vtrode without coming intophysical contactwith each other, said means being selectably detachable nating voltage and furnishing regularly recurring igniting impulses, and means to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage com-" prising a distributor, means for driving said distributor in synchronism with said alternating voltage, a spark gap electrode spaced from said distributor to normally prevent electrical'breakdown of the intervening gap, said distributor being formed to cause breakdown of said gap under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage. f

7. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said cathode and anode, a phase-shifting device energized from said alternating voltage and furnishing regularly recurring ignitingimpulses, and means to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a distributor, means for driving said distributor in synchronism with said alternating voltage, a spark gap electrode spaced from said distributor to normally prevent electrical breakdown of the intervening gap, and means mounted on said distributor to pass sufficiently close to said 1 spark gap electrode to cause said impulses to break down said gap and supply igniting impulses to said igniting electrode without coming into physical contact with each other, said means being selectably detachable from said distributor to select predetermined half cycles during which stantially in synchronism with said alternating voltage, and means to distribute said impulses to predetermined igniting electrodes only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage, each comprising a distributor, means for driving said distributor in synchronism with said alternating voltage, and-a spark gap electrode spaced from said distributor to normally prevent electrical breakdown of the intervening gap, said distributor being formed to cause breakdown of said gap under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage, said distributing means being related to each other to cause said discharge devices to be ignited in predetermined sequence relationship. 10. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said cathode and anode, means for producing peaked voltage igniting impulses in predetermined phase relation to said alternating voltage, means to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage comprising a pair of electrodes forming a, normally non-conductive spark gap, means for impressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodes, and means for causing said spark gapto become conductive under the influence of, said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage.

11. An electrical space discharge device of the V ignition type having a cathode, an anode and an igniting impulses are so supplied to said igniting I electrode.

8. A plurality of electrical space discharge devices of the ignition type, each having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting electrode, said discharge devices being related to a common load device, means for supplying an alternating voltage between said cathodes and anodes, means for igniting electrode, means for supplying a periodic voltage between said cathode and said anode, an ignition circuit connecting said ignition electrode and said cathode, impulse means for producing energy impulses for said igniting electrode substantially in synchronism with said periodic volt.. a e, means independent of said impulse means to distribute said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected periods of ,said periodic voltage comprising a pair of elctrodes forming a normally non-conductive spark gap, means for improducing regularly recurring igniting impulses substantially in synchronism with said alternating voltage, means to distribute said impulses to predetermined igniting electrodes only during selected half cycles of said alternating voltage,

each comprising a pair of electrodes forming a normally nonconductive spark gap, means for impressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodes, and means for causing said spark gap to become conductive'under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles of said alternating voltage,

pressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodes in series with the igniting electrode cathode path, and means for causing said spark gap to become conductive under the influence of said igniting impulses only during selected periods of said periodic voltage. r

- 12. An electrical space discharge device of the ignition type having a cathode, an anode and an igniting electrode, means for supplying a periodic voltage between said cathode andsaid anode, an ignition circuit connecting said ignition electrode and said cathode, impulse means for producing energy impulses for said igniting electrode subsaid distributing means being' related to each 1 other to cause said discharge devices to be ignited in predetermined sequence relationship.

9. 'A plurality of electrical space discharge devices of the ignition type, each having a cathode, an anode, and an igniting elctrode, said discharge devices being related to a common load device,

means for supplying an alternating voltage betwen said cathodes and anodes, means for producing regularly recurring igniting impulses sub.

stantially in chronism with said periodic voltage, means to vary the phase relation between said impulses and said alternating voltage, means independent of said impulse means to distribute, said impulses to said igniting electrode only during selected periods of 'said periodic voltage comprising a pair of elctrodes forming a normally non-conductive spark gap, means for impressing said igniting impulses between said pair of electrodes in series with the igniting electrode cathode path, and means for causing said spark gap to become conductive under the influence of said igniting impulses only during said selected half cycles, of said periodic voltage.

PERCY L. SPENCER. 

